Marcos Chagas
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Severino Cavalcanti (PP-PE), cut short his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly because of the uproar that charges he forced a restaurateur in the congressional office building to pay him monthly kickbacks has caused in Brazil. The opposition is demanding his resignation and threatens to obstruct legisaltion until he resigns.

Cavalanti returned to Brazil in a defiant mood. At a news conference yesterday he vehemently refused to step down. "I will preside over all sessions in the Chamber of Deputies. If others do not fulfill their obligations that is their problem. Deputies are elected to vote, not obstuct," he declared, adding that he would not take sick leave or any other type of leave of absence. "I will resist," he said. "I intend to be the judge in expulsion cases now before the chamber," he stated, and when asked if he could do that while he himself was being accused of misbehavior before the Ethics Commission, he answered: "In all these motions [for expulsion], I will be the judge."

Spokesmen for opposition parties say they intend to make formal accusations against Cavalcanti before the Ethics Commission tomorrow (Tuesday, September 13).

Translator: Allen Bennett

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